FLEETWOOD, Pa. — Dozens of authentic-looking life-size farm animal statues are looking for new grazing fields after being let out of the barn at the Fleetwood Antique Complex, as its ownership is selling off the vast antique and collectibles inventory and preparing to close down after 42 years.
The realistic farm animal statues include pigs; white goats; calves; cows in various poses; black, brown and white bulls; donkeys; and horses. These lifelike statues are in fine detail and used for a variety of purposes, including farm promotion and marketing, classic garden animal ornaments or as lawn decorations.
These animal replicas are handcrafted, many made of resin mold and hand-painted to the highest detail of animal features. Some farm animal statues are used at miniature golf ranges or for entertainment or at museums.
Jerry and Elaine Arak are shutting down their family-owned Fleetwood Antique Barn Complex on Sept. 28 and moving south, days after they sign documents selling the 30,000 square-foot, three-story barn to their son, Eric. Plans call for the younger Arak to open the complex months later as an 80-dealer antique mall.
"We’ve sold a number of the animal statues thus far," the elder Arak told Farm World. "We’ve had a good business buying and selling antiques for 42 years.
"I have mixed emotions, but it’s time to go."
Prices for the lifelike animal statues, all in good condition, vary. A horse in a standing pose is selling for $1,695; horse trotting, $1,595; cows in various poses, $995; bulls, $1,500; pigs, sheep, donkeys, or calves, $495; and white goats, $195.
Among the antiques for sale – "at a bargain," Arak said – is an Amish-country horse-drawn buggy for $300, when they normally sell for a $1,000.
"I have an 1890s double-seat winter horse-drawn sleigh with seats up front and behind. You don’t see many of those," he said – and it’s for sale at $1,200. The wide assortment of antiques and collectibles also includes a 1928 Chevy panel truck for $32,000 and a 1924 Ford "with most of its original parts" and ready to drive away for $24,000.
Arak said he’s had two foreign antique dealers snagging hundreds of American-made antiques to ship home to their antique shops in Israel and Australia.
The Fleetwood Antique Complex is located on State Route 222, at 14131 Kutztown Road, in Fleetwood, Pa., 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia. For more information, phone 610-207-2322.
